Virginia Golfers Finish Fourth at South Carolina

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March 12, 2006

Columbia, SC – The 17th-ranked Virginia women’s golf team saw its chances of posting its best-ever tournament finish fade late during its final round at South Carolina’s Lady Gamecock Classic, but still managed to place fourth in the 11-team field. The Cavaliers have posted a top-five finish in all seven tournaments this season.

Virginia shot a disappointing 308 during Sunday’s final round at the University Club to complete the three-day event at 35-over 899. Sixth-ranked Auburn took first place honors by 18 strokes at 15-over 879. Tennessee, ranked 14th, was second at 897 while Florida State placed fourth at 898. UVa was eight shots better than 11th-ranked Wake Forest, which was seventh and the only other top-20 team in the field.

The Cavaliers, which have never finished higher than third in a tournament in the three-year history of the program, appeared to have the runner up spot locked up midway through their round. The opportunity slipped away when UVa’s four scoring players combined to shoot 14-over during their final nine holes.

The tournament was not without several footnotes for the Virginia program. The Cavaliers’ second-round score of 1-over 289 was the best 18-hole performance ever by a UVa team. Junior Leah Wigger led the Cavaliers with a 5-over 221 to place seventh. It was her sixth top-10 finish this year in seven events.

Carly Truitt’s 73 was UVa’s best final-round effort. It allowed her to move up to 13th place at 9-over 225. Jennie Arseneault shot 79 Sunday and was 17th at 226. Rachel Smith was 28th at 230 while Lauren Mielbrecht was 47th at 238.

Auburn’s Maria Martinez ran away with medalist honors at 5-under 211. Florida State’s Caroline Westrup was second at 216.

The Cavaliers return to the links for the Bryan National Collegiate at Greensboro’s Bryan Park Champions Course March 31 through April 2. The tournament will serve as UVa’s final regular-season tournament before the ACC Championships in mid-April.

Lady Gamecock Classic
Final Results
The University Club
Par 72, 5,996 yards

Team Results

1. Auburn 304-278-297-879 2. Tennessee 300-288-309-897 3. Florida State 302-295-301-898 4. Virginia 302-289-308-899 5. Furman 301-300-302-903 6. NC State 303-293-308-906 7. Wake Forest 305-294-308-907 8. South Carolina 314-297-303-914 9. Augusta State 314-292-311-91710. East Tennessee State 319-305-312-93411. Minnesota 330-323-318-971

Top Individuals 1. Maria Martinez, Auburn 73-68-70-211 2. Caroline Westrup, Florida State 70-74-72-216 3. Golda Johansson, Tennessee 72-72-74-218 3. Blair Lamb, Furman 75-72-73-218 4. Nicole Hage, Auburn 74-69-76-219 6. Caroline Larsson, Florida State 73-71-75-220 7. Leah Wigger, Virginia 74-70-76-221 8. Margaret Shirley, Auburn 77-72-73-222 8. Nicole Smith, Tennessee 74-69-79-22210. Kathleen Ekey, Furman 74-76-73-223

Virginia Results 7. Leah Wigger 74-71-76-22113. Carly Truitt 75-77-73-22517. Jennie Arseneault 74-73-79-22628. Rachel Smith 79-71-80-23047. Lauren Mielbrecht 83-74-81-238